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| June 15, 2005 | Wednesday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 7, 1426 |
India pin hopes on Chappell to revive fortunes
NEW DELHI, June 14: Former Australia captain Greg Chappell will open a challenging new chapter in his cricket career this week when he formally begins a two-year stint as India’s coach. The 56-year-old arrives in India on Wednesday and a cricket-mad public is eagerly awaiting to see how Chappell plans to revive a jaded team, particularly in the one-day arena.
An elegant batsman and astute captain, his first full national coaching role has thrust him firmly into the media spotlight in India since he was appointed to succeed John Wright on May 20.
New Zealander Wright quit a month earlier after four-and-a-half years as the country’s first foreign coach.
Every word from Chappell has been reported, even his preference for a strict vegetarian diet.
He has already called for greater discipline and a solid work ethic if the team from world cricket’s commercial hub has aspirations of matching world champions Australia on the field.
His two-year tenure runs up until the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Despite Chappell’s aura as a player and his straight-talking personality, which contrasts with the gentle Wright, the job is still likely to make a heavy demand of his management skills.
His first task will be to revive a side that was below its best at home in March-April against rivals Pakistan, drawing a Test series 1-1 and losing 4-2 in the one-dayers.
Struggling to find consistency, India have slumped to eighth in the one-day rankings since reaching the 2003 World Cup final.
However, several former internationals are confident Chappell will be able to make a difference.
“His Australian experience will be of great help to Indian cricket,” former all-rounder Chandu Borde said.
“He is great cricketer, a great thinker.
“He has gone through all strategies of Australia, how they plan the game, how they work. But it depends on how nicely our players grasp them.”
Ex-India wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani agreed.
“I don’t see any major challenges for Chappell and it is up to the team to perform,” he said.
However, Chappell will also inherit unsettled players.
Premier batsman Sachin Tendulkar is recovering after recent elbow surgery and will be out of action until late September.
Captain Saurav Ganguly, his international future uncertain due to poor batting form, will miss four more games after he was banned for six one-dayers for his team’s repeated slow over-rate.
Off spinner Harbhajan Singh’s is still under scrutiny after only receiving conditional clearance for his doosra after he was reported for a suspect bowling action.
Chappell may also have to contend with the thorny issue of not being a selector, something which rankled his predecessor.
Borde and Kirmani defended India’s five-man selection panel which only consults the coach and captain.
Ganguly issue
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (India): Indian cricket board will take up issue of six-match ban imposed on captain Saurav Ganguly during ICC’s Executive and CEO’s meetings to be held in London from June 24 to 29.
“We are going to take up the issue strongly. The recent BCCI working committee meeting decided to pursue the matter vigorously as board is of the view that six-ban match was a severe step,” BCCI Secretary S K Nair said.
Ganguly was banned for six One-day Internationals by ICC match referee Chris Broad after he was found guilty for his side’s slow over rate during one-day series against Pakistan.
Asian Cricket Council meeting would also be held along with ICC executive meet, Nair said.
BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra and board secretary would be representing the country in ICC meet.—Agencies
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